Elgin National Watch Co.
Research & Media
Elgin H.H. Taylor Pocket Watch
Henry Hobart Taylor was one of the founders of the Nation Watch Company and served on the Board of Directors 1867-1875. He was credited with placing the Elgin watch on the English market within one month. Taylor was also a director at the American Insurance Company, where H.Z. Culver was President.
The H.H. Taylor grade was introduced November 20, 1867, positioned below the B.W. Raymond and the H.Z. Culver. All Taylor movements are 18-Size and feature 15 jewels. The early Grade 58 Taylor movements were not adjusted. After approximately 1873, all Taylor movements were adjusted and marked accordingly.
Elgin H.H. Taylor Pocket Watch Grade List
| Est. Production Years: |
1867 - 1876 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
1 |
| Setting: |
Key |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
15 |
| Adjustments: |
Mixed |
| Total Production: |
28,454 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: |
85.67 |
| Introduced: |
November 20, 1867 |
| Grade Profile Code: |
18s-M1-15j-HGK-U/A-H.H. Taylor/Elgin Nat'l. Watch Co./Special/Elgin Nat'l Watch Co. |
| Est. Production Years: |
1873 - 1875 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
2 |
| Setting: |
Lever |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
15 |
| Adjustments: |
Adjusted |
| Total Production: |
9,000 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: |
27.09 |
| Grade Profile Code: |
18s-M2-15j-HGL-A-H.H. Taylor/Elgin Nat'l. Watch Co. |
| Est. Production Years: |
1873 - 1885 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
1 |
| Setting: |
Key |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
15 |
| Adjustments: |
Adjusted |
| Total Production: |
14,900 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: |
44.86 |
| Grade Profile Code: |
18s-M1-15j-HGK-A-H.H. Taylor/Elgin Nat'l Watch Co. |
| Est. Production Years: |
1874 - 1895 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
2 |
| Setting: |
Lever |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
15 |
| Adjustments: |
Adjusted |
| Total Production: |
41,000 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: |
123.44 |
| Grade Profile Code: |
18s-M2-15j-HGL-A-H.H. Taylor/Mixed/Elgin Nat'l Watch Co./Elgin Nat'l. Watch Co. |
Grade 80 runs are marked H.H. Taylor or Elgin Nat' Watch Co. While most runs are exclusively grouped, some runs are mixed. As a result, actual production of Grade 80 Taylor movements are left to speculation.
| Est. Production Years: |
1887 - 1895 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
2 |
| Setting: |
Lever |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Nickel |
| Jewels: |
15 |
| Adjustments: |
Adjusted |
| Total Production: |
16,000 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: |
48.17 |
| Grade Profile Code: |
18s-M2-15j-HNL-A-Mixed/Elgin Nat'l. Watch Co./Elgin Nat'l Watch Co./H.H. Taylor |
| Est. Production Years: |
1887 - 1896 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
5 |
| Setting: |
Pendant |
| Configuration: |
Openface |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
15 |
| Adjustments: |
Adjusted |
| Total Production: |
19,000 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: |
57.20 |
| Grade Profile Code: |
18s-M5-15j-OGP-A-H.H. Taylor/Mixed/Elgin Nat'l Watch Co. |
| Grade Number |
Est. Production Years |
Size |
Model |
Setting |
Configuration |
Movement Finish |
Jewels |
Adjustments |
Est. Production |
| 58 |
1867 - 1876 |
18 |
1 |
Key |
Hunting |
Gilt |
15 |
U/A |
28,454 |
| 20 |
1873 - 1875 |
18 |
2 |
Lever |
Hunting |
Gilt |
15 |
A |
9,000 |
| 79 |
1873 - 1885 |
18 |
1 |
Key |
Hunting |
Gilt |
15 |
A |
14,900 |
| 80 |
1874 - 1895 |
18 |
2 |
Lever |
Hunting |
Gilt |
15 |
A |
41,000 |
| 33 |
1887 - 1895 |
18 |
2 |
Lever |
Hunting |
Nickel |
15 |
A |
16,000 |
| 76 |
1887 - 1896 |
18 |
5 |
Pendant |
Openface |
Gilt |
15 |
A |
19,000 |
| Est. Total Production: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
128,354 |
Further Reading and References:
1871 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1871
1872 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1872
1873 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1873
1874 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1874
1875 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1875
1876 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1876
1896 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1896
1904 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1904
1915 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1915
1927 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1927
c.1950 Elgin Material Catalog Supplements, Elgin National Watch Company, c.1950
The Complete History of Watch Making in America by Charles S. Crossman
The Watch Factories of America Past and Present: A complete history of Watch Making in America by Henry G. Abbott
Elgin National Watch Company, The Keystone, August 1890
NOTE: Production metrics are based on the Elgin Numbered Grade Classification System. Other variants, including "unnamed" movements and movements with different named grades may have recieved the same grade number. The data on these pages attempts to segment and isolate the targeted named grade within the number classification for analysis.